Page 3083 - Week 09 - Thursday, 21 September 2006
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Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) ACT Government is in the process of consultation widely on the role of personal carers through the Direct Care Employee Consultation Paper.
The Direct Care Employee Consultation Paper has been released for public consultation and feedback on four key proposals.
It has been circulated widely and can also be downloaded from the ACT Health website. Feedback is required by Close of Business Friday 29 September 2006.
Two proposals of the Consultation Paper are to:
• Petition the Australian Government to establish national standards to support safe and effective care from direct care employees; and
• As an interim measure, establish a Territory wide Code of Conduct that stipulates the minimum standards of education and levels of competency for direct care employees.
(2) The Consultation Paper proposes that the ACT establish a Code of Conduct that includes a minimum qualification of Certificate III or equivalent. The Government will take into consideration all submissions on this recommendation before determining and prioritising actions and time frames relating to education and training for these workers.
(3) In its recent study into the Australian Health Workforce (2005), the Productivity Commission recommended that Australian health workers be regulated on a national basis. The ACT Government supports this recommendation although it recognises that this process is likely to take time.
In the mean time the Consultation Paper proposes that ACT Health establish a Code of Conduct for employing direct care employees within the Territory that is aligned with conduct codes developed in other jurisdictions and identifies:
• A minimum qualification of Certificate III or equivalent
• Clear practice guidelines and practice standards
• Clear direction and supervision guidelines.
The Government will take into consideration all submissions on this recommendation before determining and prioritising actions and time frames relating to education and training for these workers.
Hospitals—elective surgery
(Question No 1170)
Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 15 August 2006:
(1) Further to the reply to question on notice No 1086, what is the most current figure for people on the public elective surgery waiting list who have not yet been given a proposed date for surgery;
(2) How many of those people listed in part (1) have been waiting for a proposed date for (a) less that 12 months, (b) between 12 and 24 months and (c) more than 24 months;
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